SHIRLEY BASSEY - BASSEY FUMES OVER KANYE SAMPLE

Legendary diva DAME SHIRLEY BASSEY is furious after discovering rapper KANYE WEST sampled her 1971 hit DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER in his single DIAMONDS FROM SIERRA LEONE.

The 68-year-old star is considering legal action after West used the chorus from the JAMES BOND soundtrack song and alleges his record label Roc-A-Fella never approached her, reports British newspaper the Daily Mail.

Bassey says, "I didn't know anything about the song before its release.

"He didn't ask my permission to have me singing on the his song. I didn't even know it existed until I heard him performing at the Live 8 concert. I didn't even hear from his record company, which wasn't very nice.

"(Legally) it's something I want to look into, because he was very cheeky, so one way or another he is going to have to pay me a lot of money."